Much Ado About Nothing
Just saw that The Hooters have a new record coming out next month. Remember The Hooters? “And We Danced,” “Day By Day,” “Brother, Don’t You Walk Away” and some others. I hope it’s good. I’ll label myself cautiosly optimistic for now. I’ve always loved their sound, although they say on this next album, they use the instrument from which they culled their name much less.
Played our 12-year-old in Madden ‘08 yesterday. Gave up 67 points (I lost, obviously). He’s brutal. Up by 30, he kicked an on-sides kick. Said something about not wanting me to run back my fourth kickoff for a touchdown. Up by 30, I can see where that’s a real concern. I shoulda grounded him for not letting me win.
I’ve always wanted a food processor, as I do virtually all of our family’s cooking. Love when Rachel Ray used the food processor. Y’know, drizzle in a little EVOO, hit it with some freshed cracked pepper…. Anyway, I got one for Christmas. After I got it, I realized I have no idea what to do with it. It looks cool, at least.
Y’know, that Daughtry guy is good. Real good. What I really like is that, unlike most Idol finalists, he at least has a hand in writing his band’s own material.
I love that show “Ghosthunters.” Just saw the episode where they were in an armory and something leveled their sound guy. Dude cried for a half hour. Can’t say I blame him. I’d be seventh floor right now if that happened to me.
Big Ten football is hurting right now. Ohio State not at least making a (title) game of it really hurt the conference, along with the other teams’ collapses the last few years.
I’m glad to see West Virginia going after that four million dollars Rich Rodriguez owes them. Too often in sports, contracts mean absolutely nothng and that is wrong.
I’ve got a birthday coming up soon. Look for a little bit of sadness and melancholy in the coming weeks. Yes, I know that getting older is everyone’s ultimate goal, but that doesn’t make it any easier sometimes.
I’m in a fantasy baseball league. Last year, I steamrolled everyone in the regular season, only to lose in the playoffs. My buddy Al pointed out the my New England Patriots could do the same thing. That scares me. Mainly because that seems to be my kinda luck.
Was reading some of the boards on the TV show “Lost” lately, as I am psyched about the upcoming premiere of season four. Most of the theories are too deep for me or just have too many holes. There’s one, though, that I really like. There’s an old book called “Lost Horizons.” Wikipedia that book and look at the correlations. Pretty interesting.
I am way backed up on my reading. Finished the Chris Jericho biography lately. It was excellent. Mick Foley territory as far as wrestling autobiographies. The Stephen Colbert book I Am America and So Can You was a great read, as well. Reading the David Halberstam book on Bill Belichick right now. I’ve got so many to catch up on. Looking forward to an AC/DC biography I got for Christmas.
As a huge sports fan, I’m dreading that time between the end of the Super Bowl and the start of March Madness. That period is the Black Hole of the sports world. Outside of Dwanye Wade, the NBA does nothing for me. I love college basketball, but the regular season is not as important, thanks to those conference tournaments where a 4-22 team can get hot for three days and win it’s conference’s automatic bid. I’m hoping my boys from Marquette can make a deeper run in the NCAA’s this year. Those first round losses are brutal.
Only 49 weeks until Christmas, so I’m gonna go start my online shopping.
Crockpot Season…
It’s that time of year again…the air gets crisp, the leaves fall, the sky threatens to throw snow at us, and the crock pot cooks dinner! I love my crock pot. A little bit of time in the morning gives you dinner almost as soon as you walk in the door. One of my favorites is pork and sauerkraut. Yum! All I have to do when I get home is boil and mash some potatoes. It couldn’t be easier, and the aroma when I walk in the house after work is heavenly.
It always seems like I don’t use the crock pot at all in the summer…too hot I guess. There’s just something cozy about it. It’s definitely comfort food, no matter what you make in there. Pot roast, barbecue chicken, beef stew…it’s stick-to-your-ribs cooking that tastes best when the weather is cold and dreary.
What are some of your favorite crock pot recipes? I’d love to add to my collection…
Random Reasons I’m Happy To Be Alive
Twizzlers…’Lost’…Jennifer Garner…New England Patriots…Postseason Baseball…Ribeyes on the grill…Family…Friends…Christmas…Spider-Man…matchbox twenty…Spring…Summer…Fall…Notre Dame football…A good book…Fergie’s ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ video…Sporting News…T.G.I. Friday’s…’24′…Rick Springfield…Ben Stiller movies…Picnics…Root Beer…Air conditioning…USA Today…Hot Sausage sandwiches…Fantasy Baseball…The Internet…Starlight Mints…Collective Soul…Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’ video…Mandarin Oranges…DVR’s…The ocean…Indoor plumbing…Cotton Candy…Backyard football with the children…MP3 players…Stanford 24, Southern Cal 23…Downtown OIP’s wings…Reed’s Gap…Bruce Springsteen…Carnival-flavored Skittles…’Seinfeld’ reruns…NASA…The NFL…Blender magazine…Sleep…Two-Ply Toilet Tissue…
Its October and Baseball is finally Here!!!!!
October is the start of Baseballs 2nd season. Most people forget about baseball once college and pro football start dominating different media sources. But once we start rolling into September, Baseball starts creeping into our minds. And if you are lucky, your favorite team is still rolling in September on its way to baseballs 2nd season.
So let’s take a look at potential offensive lineups in October. The AL is already set. The RedSox, Yankees, Angels and Indians have all clinched a spot. Any one of these teams can mash.
Let’s start with the Yankees lineup. Downright scary. From Damon at the top to Cano at the bottom, any one of them can go “Yard!!” Arod is the hands down league MVP, Jeter is Mr. October, Matsui, Giambi and Cano can pour it on. They averaged about an extra 1/2 run a game more than the RedSox. With pitching being the key to October success, the Yanks can make any rotation look marginal.
The first thing you think of when someone mentions the RedSox lineup is Mr. Ortiz. Soon to be known as Mr. Clutch. When healthy, Big Papi carries this lineup. With Manny coming of the DL, and JD Drew still healthy, Ortiz has plenty of protection. And when ROY candidate Pedroia get’s on base, this team puts up runs in bunches.
Clevelands lineup starts at the top. Sizemore is the best Centerfielder in the game. He hits for power and average at the top of the order. Plus he turns any single into a double with his basestealing skills. When he gets on base, Hafner, Martinez and Blake will knock him in. There bench is deep with power (Garko and Nixon) and speed (Lofton, yes he is still runs like the wind blows.)
The last AL lineup is the Los Angelos Angels. They don’t get much press because they are on the west coast. But this team is the most balanced lineup in baseball. The mix of veterans and youth is the perfect combination for power, average and speed. They are the best AL team at manufactoring runs, either with Vlad hitting them out or Figgins creating havoc on the basepaths. Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr provide veteran leadership for the young guys, Kotchman, Wood, and Morales.
In the NL, only one team can keep pace with the AL monster lineups. And that’s the Phillies. If they make the playoffs, this lineup is a killer. The key to all great lineups is the leadoff spot, and the Phils have one of the best: Jimmy Rollins. Power, Average or Speed, there is nothing Jimmy can’t do. And with Utley, Howard, Burrell and Rowand, no pitching staff can shut them down in a 7 game series.
The Cubs with Soriano, D. Lee and A. Ramirez are solid. At any given time, they can knock the leather of the baseballs. But the problem is any given time. As good as these players are, they are very inconsistent. They can put up 14 runs one night and get shut out the next. And with weak hitting Kendall, Floyd and Derosa, this lineup doesn’t scare.
The Metropolitans get a lot of recognition for there lineup and how great it is. But they scored almost a run less than the Phillies per game. Reyes, Wright and Beltran are the future of this organization, but the future isn’t now. Delgado’s bat is getting slower (when’s the last time he got a hit in the clutch), Endy Chavez, LoDuca and Luis Castillo make opposing pitchers smile. By the way, they are hitting .275 with runners in scoring position.
The DiamondBacks are exciting to watch. Especially Eric Bynes. With Chris Young, Stephen Drew, Connor Jackson and Justin Upton, they are young. But maybe young enough to not know any better. They don’t hit for power having scored less runs than given up. They grind out runs and don’t give up until all 27 outs are recorded. Could make a run.
San Diego’s lineup is decieving. Former Pirate Brian Giles is the household name. But Khalil Greene, Kevin Kousmanoff and Adrian Gonzalez don’t ring a bell for most fans. But this lineup plays half there games in a pitchers park. That’s evident by the fact that they have scored more runs on the road than at home. Injuries to veterans Mike Cameron and Milton Bradley hurt them on the field and in the dugout.
This last team is a dark horse. When you think of the Colorado Rockies, you usually think of Bichette, Walker and Castilla. But this version is younger and better. With Tulowitski, Hawpe, Helton and Atkins, this lineup is loaded. But the star of this show is Matt Holliday. One of the best power hitters in the game. And don’t think this team is a fluke. They are 4th in all of baseball in runs scored since the All-Star break, trailing the Yankees, Phillies and RedSox. Winning 18 of there last 24, this team is hot and on a roll.
Starting Pitching and Bullpens make World Series Champions. Cardinals, Marlins, RedSox have dominated in October because in a 7 game series, pitching is what wins.
In the AL, they Yanks are the good, the bad and the ugly of baseball. The good is actually, great with Mariano Riviera being one fo the best closers in the game. Maybe ever!!! The bad is the starting pitching with Mussina and Clemens struggling to get past the 6th inning. The ugly is middle relief. Farnsworth, Vizcaino and Bruney scare there teammates more than opposing teams. The only bright spot is rookie Joba Chamberlein. He’ll be used like KRod was when Anaheim won the World Series a few years ago.
The RedSox have great starters with Dice K, Schilling, and Wins leader Josh Beckett. Papelbon is a great closer and know how to pitch in Fenway Park. Gagne is the only question mark. Teams have been able to beat the RedSox by keeping the games close until Okajima or Gagne come into the game. If there starters can pitch deep into games, they will be the team to beat in the AL.
CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona of the Cleveland Indians are the best 1-2 punch in baseball. There middle relief is great with Rafeal Betancourt and Rafeal Perez. But there closer Joe Borowski’s ERA is over 5.00. If the game is on the line going into the 9th inning, the Indians will struggle.
The Angels have John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, there middle relief is solid and KRod is there closer. This is how they win ballgames. There pitching staff is deep and don’t be surprised if they are the last team standing.
In the NL, the Phillies pitching is it’s achillies heal. Other than Cole Hamels, this team gives up runs. In fact, of all the playoff teams, they are in last in runs allowed. They are 14- 23 in one run games and even though they play in a hitters park, their road ERA is almost 5.00 and in the bottom half of the NL.
The Mets are hoping the return of Pedro is enough to get them deep into October. Billy Wagner is one of the best closers, but getting to him is a struggle for the Mets. Their pitching staff is one of the worst since the All-Star break, and their bullpen has an ERA of 9.49 with runners in scoring position. In a 7 game series, well, they might not get to the 7th game.
The Cubs are anchored by Carlos Zambrano and along with Rich Hill, they are very good. Ted Lilly eats innings and is solid. They have the 3rd best ERA since the All Star break in the NL. And the bullpen has the 2nd fewest blown saves in the NL.
Brandon Webb might win his 2nd consecutive Cy Young for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Along with any other pitcher, that’s enough to have the best 1-2 combo in the NL. Jose Valverde has been one of the best closers the last two years and the bullpen is 3rd in fewest blown saves in the NL. They are the best team in baseball with opposing teams have runners in scoring position. Don’t forget that when SP Micah Owens is on the mound, he isn’t an easy out with a bat. He’s batting .339, has 4 hrs and two 4-hit games. Oh, and he’s batting .462 with runners in scoring position. I like this team making the World Series.
San Diego is led by Jake Peavy. They have the best ERA in the NL, the play in the best pitchers park in the NL and have the all-time saves leader closing games in Trevor Hoffman. Even though Chris Young is ailing, they have given up the fewest runs in all of baseball. Plus, they have the 2nd best ERA with runners in scoring position. If the ballgames are close, they won’t get rattled.
I know what your thinking. It’s Colorado. Well, you might not be afraid of Jeff Francis or Aaron Cook, but the Rockies have the best ERA since the All Star break in the NL. The difference in the Home/Away ERA is under a .5 run per game. The down side is that they have one of the worst ERA with runners in scoring position. I know I’ve used RISP stats alot, but in the playoffs, that’s the difference between the good teams and great teams.
Best Concert?
What is the best concert you’ve ever seen? I’ve been to ton over the years,but the one that I remember most fondly is one that I wasn’t all thatexcited for. I knew a few Sister Hazel songs from the working in radio,but really knew nothing more. Went down to the Whitaker Center inHarrisburg to see them open up for the Badlees. Sister Hazel that nightbecame one of my all-time favorite bands. Their live show was phenomenal. Ididn’t even know most of their songs at the time and I still loved them.Such stage presence.Speaking of the Badlees, theirs were some of my favorite live shows, too.My favorites were down at the old Metron in Harrisburg. They rocked thatplace hard.Laugh if you will, but Michael Jackson put on a great show at the old CivicArena in Pittsburgh.Matchbox twenty is great, too. Rob Thomas has such a smooth, laid backattitude that you can’t help but sit back, relax and enjoy the show.Recently took in the Rock ‘N Roll Triple Play. Collective Soul did anexcellent job, although they only played seven songs as the opening act.Live was very good, too. Counting Crows are an acquired taste as far aslive performances. If you are not into their lyrics, their live show willprobably bore you. I love them, so it’s all good for me.I’d be remiss if I didn’t add my boy Rick Springfield. Saw him at the StonePony in Asbury Park, NJ, my hometown. Of the four times I’ve seen him,that show was my favorite. Even got to pat him on the back. Haven’twashed that hand since.I have so many favorites and I’m wishy-washy, which leads me to jump backand forth, so I’ll end it now.
Skateboading
Skateboarding in this community has long been an issue that goes back to when I was a young teenager growing up in Lewistown. I lived for skateboarding. I actually went to a local Borough council meeting back in 1988 to talk about the possibility of a skate park in the area after a ban was placed in various parts of Lewistown. I was told that we would have a skate park very soon. Here we are in the year 2007, and there is still no skatepark, but by the sounds of it there will be one soon thanks to the help of many business organizations, business people, and thoughtful citizens in the area.
I am here to say that skateboarding is here to stay, and the sooner our community can just accept it and help get the kids a place to ride….. the better. I recently met a very nice gentleman who owns the Bliss skateboard shop in downtown Lewistown, and I was very excited to find that he is a good man who is all for helping these young athletes. I was also very excited to hear that there is a skateboarding and bicycling team in Mifflin County that consists of over 20 members.
Skateboarders, for the most part, are very good kids who have a hobby that happens to be a very skilled sport and is also a lifestyle. The common misconception that they are all on drugs is the farthest thing from the truth and in my opinion an excuse to keep from spending money to help them. I was a die hard skater, and I turned out just fine, along with the guys I rode with.
Mifflin County has a couple basketball courts, lots of football fields, and many little league baseball fields in the area, so it is only fair that we have something for these young athletes so that they are not always on the streets. Give these kids somewhere to go and embrace that they are not on the streets dealing or doing drugs like so many kids and young adults in this area with no hobbies or sports to play.
Like I said Skateboarding/Bicycling is here to stay, and after three decades of fighting these kids, the community needs to accept that they are not going anywhere, and are going to be continuing to push for a park and areas to ride legally. Once again, I thank the many area business organizations and their attempts to help raise money for the effort. Now what we all need is for the community as a whole to embrace them, and work together to add another aspect to Mifflin County that we can all be proud of. Many areas like State College (Tussy Mountain, Camp Woodward, ect) and other smaller communities have skate parks, and are very happy with them.
Check out The Grange
Every year, in late August (the “dog days of summer”), it’s that magical time. It’s Fair Week. Centre Hall, PA - which is usually a nice, quiet little borough - becomes a bustling metropolis. From August 23 through August 30th, Centre Hall is the place to be! If you’ve never been to the Grange Fair, you’ve got to check it out. The sheer size of the fair is incredible. It’s truly amazing to see the sea of tents and campers, the livestock barns, the entertainment, and the masses of people. My family has a tent at the Fair, and sitting out front watching the people go by is one of my favorite things to do. We have family that travel from Gettysburg, Ohio - and even Florida this year - to go to the Fair. Where else can you go and walk through the animal barns, check out a model home, see displays by local landscapers, and shop for a tractor, or a hot tub, or a camper, or a woodstove, or a new car? There are just so many things to do at the Fair. There’s entertainment every night - this year you can see Daryle Singletary, The Lettermen and Poverty Neck Hillbillies, just to name a few. I remember seeing Garth Brooks at the Fair, many years ago, before he hit it big. And then of course….there’s the food.
The Fair (we capitalize that word in my family!) has such a wide variety of interesting foods, that you just can’t get bored. Of course you can get the usual “fair” food - cheesesteaks, hot sausage sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and pizza. But at the Grange Fair, there’s just so much more. How about an emu burger? Or homemade ham pot pie? Or a dozen hot wings? Or homemade soup served in a bread bowl? Or - one of our favorites - haluski, stuffed cabbage or pierogies? You can get homemade pierogies with either cream sauce or butter and onions - my stomach’s growling already! Haluski is a wonderful combination of noodles and cabbage. We can see this food stand from our tent, and we can see them chopping the fresh cabbage right out back. They have a huge kielbasa and sauerkraut sandwich, too. You’d better not wait too long, though, because they usually sell out!
And then of course there’s dessert….funnel cakes, ice cream - soft serve or hand dipped, monkey bread (they stand in line for this!), cinnamon buns, sugar waffles, italian ice, doughnuts….the possibilities are endless! It’s a good thing you do a lot of walking at the Fair!
I hope you get a chance to check it out. As for me, I’ve got to go to the Fair!!!!!
Until next time…
Welcome to Blog Central - Mifflin County Edition
I’m really excited about having this blog section added to our site. I really hope that it can become an open forum for people to give their opinions and feelings, and then have intelligent (maybe that’s hoping too much), thoughtful discussions about the topics. There’s a lot of really great things going on in our area, and hopefully we’ll get a lot of discourse on these things, but there’s also topics that effect the entire world, and topics that effect us as individuals, and the purpose of these blogs to freely hit on any and all of these subjects.So look around - hopefully there will be a subject matter that interests you, or an opinion with which you strongly agree or disagree… all I hope is that we get to hear your thoughts. We’ll have health issues, sports, cooking….. the topics are limited only by our bloggers and YOU. Let us know what you’d like to hear and discuss - the sky’s the limit. No topic is off limits. As long as we remain respectful of other’s opinions, we can really get some great threads going.So keep coming back - we hope to have more and more bloggers as time goes by - and we REALLY hope to have plenty of feedback from the community and beyond. Thanks for reading, and we hope to hear from you soon.
“You don’t wanna know”
Monday, August 20, 2007 - 4:34pm Chicago time
So I’m in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport waiting to board my last leg of the trip home to the east coast from visiting my brother and his wife in Denver. The flight from Denver to here was delayed about 45min so what was supposed to be an hour and half layover turned out to be just enough time to get across the airport to the next flight (I was quite fortunate on the way out that my connecting flight in Chicago was only a couple gates down…not this time….it was the familiar fast paced walk across the airport which seems to be common in Chicago). So, I get here and it seems just in time as they seem to be preparing to board…then the gentlemen explains something over the intercom that I couldn’t quite hear (musicians ears?…lol) and then some bustling and grumbling from the folks in front of me….a woman next to me asks another standing next to her what the announcement was. She responds, “You don’t wanna know. The flight has been delayed until 5:30pm due to them needing a PART for the plane.” “Oh my,” the other woman responds. “Yes, I told you you wouldn’t wanna know,” responds the informant. I look around and the disgust on folks faces is amazing. Some disgusted, some bothered, some angry, some downright pissed off….most with cell phones a buzzing informing the news to whomever.
So interesting how people view things….especially something like this. All I thought was, “hmmm…well, glad they realized they needed this part NOW and not when we were in the air! It actually gives me a chance to get something to eat and then do some writing….I’ll get there a bit later but oh well.”
Perspective is everything, folks.
Sports
Welcome!!! With September just around the corner, my first blog will be about the best time of year. The time of year that has so much optimism and hope. The time of year when water cooler talk is so exciting. The time of year when phrases like “I guarantee it” and “you heard it here first” end every conversation. The time of year you sneak to the store to get the latest publication.
You wouldn’t dare leave it on your desk. You guard it like it’s the nuclear codes that the President needs for WWIII. You know what I’m talking about. Admit it, you’re a secret member. It’s alright, this club is the largest of it’s kind with millions of members.
They say it’s for kids, but it’s not. They say it’s just a game, but we know better. It’s a passion. It’s a way of life. It’s a chance to dream about being someone else. An escape from the tedious lives that we live. It’s Fantasy Football Season. And millions of us are Fantasy Football owners. Aaaah………it’s finally here.
So I start with 5 steps to have a great draft:
1) Have a plan- don’t just show up with just the latest copy of Street & Smith. If you do, consider your entry fee as a donation.
2) Avoid risks- winning in fantasy requires consistency. Stay clear of guys that have missed games year in and year out because of injuries. You want players that show up every week for games
3) Don’t chase- If you are sitting there with the 8th pick in the draft and the first 7 picks were running backs, ask yourself if you should take the 8th best running back or the number 1 quarterback or wide receiver on the board. When a run of players from a particular position comes to you, don’t follow the pack if higher quality players are out there. Start your own runs.
4) Quality first- Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers are your primary concern. Don’t get caught up in defenses, kickers and Tight Ends. Sure, they are important, but 80% of your points come from glamour positions.
5) Backups- Cover your investments. If you like LT enough to make him your first pick, then you should like his backup. His backup should have many of the same characteristics that LT has. Great line, great QB, great TE. Plus, great playcalling. So Michael Turner should be a great replacement in case of injury.
Fantasy Sleepers:
QB- Jon Kitna
RB- Reggie Bush
WR- Javon Walker
– John Pannizzo